HILLIARD — The Ashland boys 4×800 relay team just kept getting faster and faster.
The quartet of Dylan Hickey, Lukah Will, Grant Vance and Josh Hawley sped to a sixth-place finish at the Division I state track and field tournament Friday at Darby Stadium.
The foursome finished in 7-minutes, 53.85 seconds, shaving another .66 off their previous season best of 7:53.85 turned in at last week’s Amherst regional and earning an All-Ohio spot on the podium.
Lexington’s girls 4×800 team of Halle Hamilton, Joanna Halfhill, Karis Hunter and Lily Weeks finished 13th in 9:27.80.
The boys and girls 4×800 relays were the only running finals held on opening day. The rest of the running finals, along with the remaining field events finals, will be held Saturday.
Madison’s Isaac Brooks put himself in position to challenge for a state championship in the 300 hurdles. Brooks won his qualifying heat in 38.47 and is seeded second behind Mount Vernon’s Erich Rhodeback (37.90) heading into the finals.
The news wasn’t quite as good for Brooks in the 110 hurdles. He finished ninth, one spot away from qualifying for the finals. The top-two finishers in each of the three qualifying heats automatically advanced to the finals with the next two fastest times earning at-large bids.
Madison freshman Nevaeh Lewis finished 10th in the 100 (12.41) and 12th in the 200 (25.77). Lewis joined Kari Eckenwiler, Alexsia Davis and Montana Walker on the 4×200 relay team that placed ninth in 1:43.32.
